Director column

IBC director's monthly column featured in Cattleman Magazine. Archives
	December 2025 Preparing Cattle Feeding Operations for Winter Months Ahead Growing-up in Illinois I thought I was pretty well versed in winter challenges when feeding cattle. Wind, sub-zero temperatures, freezing rain, ice, frozen waterers, slow chute hydraulics, and difficulty maintaining pen conditions were always present. Then I lived in South Dakota and married a man from a North Dakota cattle operation, and my perception of cold stress and winter cattle feeding challenges was broadened. Regardless of where you feed cattle in the Midwest, there are always challenges to feeding through the winter. Preparing ahead can minimized stress experienced by both the feeder and the cattle. Fall-weaned feeder cattle have made it through the receiving period and are on their way to consistent intakes and growth when winter reaches the Midwest. Planning ahead for wind protection, maintaining pen and cattle condition, water availability, and feed composition and delivery can ease the strain of winter feeding. Wind protection: Wind seems to make cold colder and especially if accompanied by precipitation that makes the hide coat wet. The combination of wet coat and wind results in the greatest amount of additional energy needed for the animal to keep itself warm, and dry matter intakes (DMI) increase to meet the demand. This additional DMI goes to generate warmth not gain and feed conversions worsen during winter months. Strategically placing wind breaks on the perimeter of a feedyard can minimize excessive wind to cattle and drifting which can present challenges to feed delivery and maintenance of pen conditions. Within pen wind breaks also can be used for more direct animal protection. Wind breaks can be installed or placed in advance of impending winter weather and can be natural or man-made, temporary or permanent. It is recommended that windbreaks be at least 7-8 feet tall and placed against the prevailing wind to block ~80% of wind and allow 20% to pass to prevent downdrafts and allow for ventilation of the yard. During extreme cold and wind, cattle also may adjust their behavior to huddle and shuffle. Temperatures at the inner ring of the huddle are considerably warmer than on the outside and cattle will shuttle between inner and outer rings to maintain a desirable temperature. Pen and cattle condition: Pens that have been wet and freeze hard with sharp, deep, uneven surface can prevent cattle from accessing water and feed and may cause injury or lameness. Bedding pens to control moisture and provide a more even pack for cattle to stand on can minimize these challenges. Bedding also can help prevent frost bite to hooves and ears, and provide a place for cattle to lie down which is a time that they are normally ruminating. Having sufficient bedding material on-hand and in a location that can be easily accessed during inclement weather is an important preparation. Water: Water is essential for normal feed intake, digestive function, and metabolism that supports growth and maintenance of the animal. Keeping automated waterers and(or) water tanks functional during the cold is challenging but essential to minimizing decreased performance during the winter. Preparing ahead to make sure supplies for breaking through or thawing ice and repairing frozen waterers and lines are on-hand and easy to locate is important to keeping water available through the winter. Feed composition and delivery: As discussed previously, energy requirements during the cold increase in an effort to maintain body temperature. This increase is generally met by increasing DMI. Intakes increase gradually once temperature fall below 59o F. Significant impacts to growth can be recognized if adjustments to DMI are not made once temperatures reach critical points. A 5 to 10% increase in DMI is recommended to accommodate additional energy needs when temperatures are between 5 and 23o F including wind chill and an increase of 8 to 25% as temperatures fall below 5o F. Rumen fermentation results in heat production, and while the generation of fermentation heat is associated with less efficient use of feed, it can be advantageous during cold weather. The greatest heat of fermentation is released 4 to 6 h after feeding. Evening feeding results in the greatest heat of fermentation being released during the coldest part of the day; allowing normal metabolism to regulate body temperature. Fibrous feeds generate more fermentation heat than grains and formulation of the diet to include highly-fermentable fiber is a consideration for winter. High-moisture feeds and liquid feed additions can greatly improve ration condition and DMI, but can freeze during extreme cold. Keeping liquids heated and(or) agitated can minimize freezing in the tank. Bunk deliveries throughout the day can minimize high-moisture feeds becoming frozen in bunks. Maintenance and housing of feed mixing and delivery equipment so that it can function during cold inclement weather also should be considered. Additionally, as inclement weather is approaching, make sure commodity and supplement inventories are sufficient as some weather events can delay manufacture and(or) delivery of these feed components. Regardless of location for a Midwest cattle feeding operation, the week-to-week variation in weather challenges cattle feeding in the winter. Preparing ahead to address the challenges can minimized stress experienced by both the feeder and the cattle, and lessen negative impacts on cattle growth and efficiency. The IBC at Iowa State University serves as the university’s extension program to cattle producers. Our center comprises a team of faculty and staff from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. We work together to develop and deliver the latest in research-based information to improve the profitability and vitality of Iowa’s beef industry. If you’d like to be notified of updates on progress of research projects or programs that might be coming to your area, please subscribe to our “Growing Beef” newsletter by following the link on our website, www.iowabeefcenter.org. If you have a question, use our “Ask our Experts” link. Also, feel free to call us at 515-294-BEEF or email us at beefcenter@iastate.edu. You can follow @iowabeefcenter on Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram.

IBC director's monthly column featured in Cattleman Magazine. Archives

December 2025

Preparing Cattle Feeding Operations for Winter Months Ahead

Growing-up in Illinois I thought I was pretty well versed in winter challenges when feeding cattle. Wind, sub-zero temperatures, freezing rain, ice, frozen waterers, slow chute hydraulics, and difficulty maintaining pen conditions were always present. Then I lived in South Dakota and married a man from a North Dakota cattle operation, and my perception of cold stress and winter cattle feeding challenges was broadened. Regardless of where you feed cattle in the Midwest, there are always challenges to feeding through the winter. Preparing ahead can minimized stress experienced by both the feeder and the cattle. Fall-weaned feeder cattle have made it through the receiving period and are on their way to consistent intakes and growth when winter reaches the Midwest. Planning ahead for wind protection, maintaining pen and cattle condition, water availability, and feed composition and delivery can ease the strain of winter feeding.

Wind protection: Wind seems to make cold colder and especially if accompanied by precipitation that makes the hide coat wet. The combination of wet coat and wind results in the greatest amount of additional energy needed for the animal to keep itself warm, and dry matter intakes (DMI) increase to meet the demand. This additional DMI goes to generate warmth not gain and feed conversions worsen during winter months. Strategically placing wind breaks on the perimeter of a feedyard can minimize excessive wind to cattle and drifting which can present challenges to feed delivery and maintenance of pen conditions. Within pen wind breaks also can be used for more direct animal protection. Wind breaks can be installed or placed in advance of impending winter weather and can be natural or man-made, temporary or permanent. It is recommended that windbreaks be at least 7-8 feet tall and placed against the prevailing wind to block ~80% of wind and allow 20% to pass to prevent downdrafts and allow for ventilation of the yard. During extreme cold and wind, cattle also may adjust their behavior to huddle and shuffle. Temperatures at the inner ring of the huddle are considerably warmer than on the outside and cattle will shuttle between inner and outer rings to maintain a desirable temperature.

Pen and cattle condition: Pens that have been wet and freeze hard with sharp, deep, uneven surface can prevent cattle from accessing water and feed and may cause injury or lameness. Bedding pens to control moisture and provide a more even pack for cattle to stand on can minimize these challenges. Bedding also can help prevent frost bite to hooves and ears, and provide a place for cattle to lie down which is a time that they are normally ruminating. Having sufficient bedding material on-hand and in a location that can be easily accessed during inclement weather is an important preparation.

Water: Water is essential for normal feed intake, digestive function, and metabolism that supports growth and maintenance of the animal. Keeping automated waterers and(or) water tanks functional during the cold is challenging but essential to minimizing decreased performance during the winter. Preparing ahead to make sure supplies for breaking through or thawing ice and repairing frozen waterers and lines are on-hand and easy to locate is important to keeping water available through the winter.

Feed composition and delivery: As discussed previously, energy requirements during the cold increase in an effort to maintain body temperature. This increase is generally met by increasing DMI. Intakes increase gradually once temperature fall below 59o F. Significant impacts to growth can be recognized if adjustments to DMI are not made once temperatures reach critical points. A 5 to 10% increase in DMI is recommended to accommodate additional energy needs when temperatures are between 5 and 23o F including wind chill and an increase of 8 to 25% as temperatures fall below 5o F. Rumen fermentation results in heat production, and while the generation of fermentation heat is associated with less efficient use of feed, it can be advantageous during cold weather. The greatest heat of fermentation is released 4 to 6 h after feeding. Evening feeding results in the greatest heat of fermentation being released during the coldest part of the day; allowing normal metabolism to regulate body temperature. Fibrous feeds generate more fermentation heat than grains and formulation of the diet to include highly-fermentable fiber is a consideration for winter. High-moisture feeds and liquid feed additions can greatly improve ration condition and DMI, but can freeze during extreme cold. Keeping liquids heated and(or) agitated can minimize freezing in the tank. Bunk deliveries throughout the day can minimize high-moisture feeds becoming frozen in bunks. Maintenance and housing of feed mixing and delivery equipment so that it can function during cold inclement weather also should be considered. Additionally, as inclement weather is approaching, make sure commodity and supplement inventories are sufficient as some weather events can delay manufacture and(or) delivery of these feed components.

Regardless of location for a Midwest cattle feeding operation, the week-to-week variation in weather challenges cattle feeding in the winter. Preparing ahead to address the challenges can minimized stress experienced by both the feeder and the cattle, and lessen negative impacts on cattle growth and efficiency.

The IBC at Iowa State University serves as the university’s extension program to cattle producers. Our center comprises a team of faculty and staff from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. We work together to develop and deliver the latest in research-based information to improve the profitability and vitality of Iowa’s beef industry. If you’d like to be notified of updates on progress of research projects or programs that might be coming to your area, please subscribe to our “Growing Beef” newsletter by following the link on our website, www.iowabeefcenter.org. If you have a question, use our “Ask our Experts” link. Also, feel free to call us at 515-294-BEEF or email us at beefcenter@iastate.edu. You can follow @iowabeefcenter on Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram.